Lady Titans cruise

WEAVERVILLE – Question: How do you know when your basketball team is really, really good?
Answer: How about when you beat another ranked team on its own court – by 37 points?
The McDowell Lady Titans, the state's second-ranked 4A team (NCPreps.com) used a huge second-quarter surge to overwhelm the North Buncombe Blackhawks, the eighth-ranked 3A team, 74-37 Wednesday.
The Lady Titans (8-0 Mountain Athletic 4A/3A Conference, 19-0 overall) had already clinched their 26th straight trip to the State 4A Playoffs, but had struggled some in beating North Buncombe 58-44 in the first meeting between the two Dec. 18.
There was no struggle Wednesday.
McDowell put four players in double figures and outscored the Blackhawks (4-4, 14-4) 27-6 in the second quarter to take command. Autumn Ward (4 rebounds, 4 assists) led the way with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, but she had plenty of help.
Tuccoa Brackett (6 rebounds, 2 steals) came off the bench to score 14 on 6-of-10 shooting, while Xandi Gellman (6 rebounds, 2 steals) added 12. Madison Thomas (4 rebounds, 2 blocks) came off the bench to toss in 11 points, making all five of her shots from the floor.
Rugged Blackhawks post player Sydney Revis led her team with 11 points and 15 rebounds, but was the only North Buncombe player in double figures. Jayde Ledbetter tossed in nine for the Blackhawks.
"I think North Buncombe's got a good team," said McDowell head coach Brian Franklin. "That shows by their record. And playing on their home court, I thought they gave us their absolute best shot there in the first quarter. We were doing some good things defensively, but we weren't making some of the shots we usually make and we weren't as patient offensively. I though the second quarter was great."
North Buncombe was within 14-9 when Madison Emory nailed a 3-pointer late in the first period. But the Lady Titans opened the second quarter by scoring the first 11 points, and never looked back.
Jaalen Corpening (9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals) made a steal and basket to start the flurry, and then Brackett hit three straight buckets. Gellman added a hoop off an assist from Jami Medford (4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Kaitlin Gallion made a free throw, and it was 25-9 with 5:26 to go before halftime.
Ward and Thomas each scored on back-to-back possessions later in the period, and Thomas's basket with 1:34 left made it 39-13. It was 41-15 at the half.
McDowell was 12-of-19 from the floor in the second, while North Buncombe had as many turnovers (9) as field goal attempts in the frame.
The Lady Titans extended the lead to 58-27 after three quarters, getting seven points from Ward in the period.
"Xandi did some good things for us and Tuccoa did a great job coming off the bench," said Franklin. "She just continues to get better. The thing I'm most impressed with is this team comes ready to go every game. Nineteen times out now, and every time they've been ready to go, ready to play and give an all-out effort. They don't always play well or execute, but they're always ready to play hard."
McDowell hosts Erwin tonight (4 p.m. start—jayvee girls), weather permitting. McDowell High will induct its second Athletic Hall of Fame class between the varsity games. Tonight's game will also be an American Cancer Society benefit, with $1 from each admission fee going to the ACS.

MHS BOXSCORE
McDowell (74) Jami Medford 0-2 0-0 0, Kaitlin Gallion 0-2 1-2 1, Xandi Gellman 6-12 0-0 12, Autumn Ward 5-8 4-4 15, Jaalen Corpening 4-10 1-2 9, Tuccoa Brackett 6-10 2-2 14, Madison Thomas 5-5 1-2 11, Mary Webb 1-2 2-2 4, MacKenzie Holland 1-2 0-0 2, Taylor Settlemyre 1-5 0-0 2, Madalyn Davis 0-1 3-4 3, Brooke Epley 0-0 0-0 0, Amber Fulbright 0-0 0-0 0, Anna Pittman 0-1 1-2 1, Katie Davis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 29-61 15-20 74.
North Buncombe (37) Kelsey Moore 1-3 1-2 3, Madison Emory2-6 0-0 6, Nicole Gentry 1-12 4-6 6, Sydney Revis 4-13 3-4 11, Jayde Ledbetter 2-7 5-8 9, Jade Engstrom 1-7 1-2 3, Meaghan Lankford 0-4 0-0 0, Christy Henderson 0-2 0-0 0, Kelli Cutshall 0-3 2-4 2. Totals: 10-56 15-25 37.

McDowell 14 27 17 16 – 74
North Buncombe 09 06 12 10 – 37

Rebounds: McDowell (39) N. Bunc. (35) Rebound leaders: McDowell (Gellman, Brackett 6) N. Bunc. (Revis 15) 3-point goals: McDowell (1-7) N. Bunc. (2-14) McDowell (Ward 1-4, Settlemyre 0-2, Pittman 0-1) N. Bunc. (Moore 0-2, Emory 2-5, Gentry 0-6, Lankford 0-1) McDowell assist leaders: (Webb 5) McDowell steals leaders: (Corpening 4) McDowell blocked shot leaders: (Thomas 2, Brackett 1) Turnovers: McDowell (18) N. Bunc. (27) Technical foul: McDowell bench